As an outsider looking in......think about this.
Your battle is not directly with AJ.
Study your enemy.....study real Damned hard...... It's L Clifford.
Do I make myself 100,000% clear.
This is LC all over. You can be blind to the Forrest due the trees if you like. I bet you all your houses and lives on it.
Sorry I am telling you the obvious if you already see it.